Scientists criticize ‘straw man’ arguments in Bill Gates climate memo

Tech billionaire relying on false binary' with call to focus less on emissions and more on aid for poor, experts say

A new memo on the climate crisis from Bill Gates relies on straw man" arguments about the threat to humanity and false dichotomies" between spending on climate or aid for the poor, some climate scientists say.

Published last week, the tech billionaire's 17-page missive called for a strategic pivot" away from focusing on slashing emissions and towards preventing poverty and suffering. It was quickly picked up by some on the right, including Donald Trump, who hailed it as a much-needed backpedaling on climate efforts.